Shura Council nods to licensing freelance Saudi health practitioners

The Shura Council approved, in today's session, a draft bill to add an article to the law of practicing health professions, which was submitted by a number of council members, according to Saudi Press Agency.
 

The bill includes the addition of Article No 4 bis to the law, with the following text: "The Ministry (of Health) shall regulate the granting of a freelance Saudi individual health practitioner in the appropriate specializations a license to practice specialty thereof, and the executive regulations shall specify the appropriate specializations and the conditions and controls required thereby".

The bill aims to prevent the spread of diseases as a result of irregular practices, and to provide legal ways for licensing, follow-up and evaluation from the Ministry of Health, including providing several home health services by qualified practitioners and granting new job opportunities and income to health practitioners.
 

Furthermore, it aims to support the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and professional associations with the presence of freelance healthcare workers, and to revitalize the role of health educational institutions and teaching hospitals by adding courses and workshops for independent health practitioners